What happens in your body when you stop drinking alcohol?

“Three weeks without drinking a drop of alcohol. Three weeks where I felt more alert, fitter and more relaxed. What exactly happened to my body?” I wake up at 5:30 in the morning, do an exercise routine, and answer my son’s excited questions, before he goes to school and I go to work. For three weeks, this routine was easier than ever for me.

Coincidentally, these were the three weeks I completely abstained from drinking alcohol.

Neither I nor Helmut Karl Seitz, director of the Center for Alcohol Research at Heidelberg University, think this is a coincidence. Professor of internal medicine and gastroenterology, Seitz is sure that many things have changed in my body during these three weeks.

My son wakes up early, but the fact that I got up before him could be related to the fact that I slept much better without alcohol. “Alcohol activates catecholamines, including adrenaline. This prevents adequate rest at night,” Seitz explained.

No alcohol, no complaints

After just a week, your sleep pattern normalizes, Seitz said. He emphasized that we are not talking about alcohol-dependent people, but about people who consume alcohol only occasionally or regularly.

“You’re not a chronic drinker,” Seitz told me several times, an assessment that cheered me up a bit, I wasn’t so sure.

But the retreat wasn’t difficult for me at all, probably because I felt so comfortable. In addition to sleep, blood pressure also normalizes, Seitz said. Alcohol increases blood pressure, often causing headaches and dizziness.

Those who abstain from alcohol also reap the benefits of improved digestion. “Proteins in the villi of the small intestine break down food. These proteins recover relatively quickly,” Seitz said. Harmony in the gastrointestinal tract definitely makes life more pleasant.

And we can’t forget the liver. Abstinence from alcohol is like a spa vacation for our detox organ. Beer, wine and liquor cause fat accumulation in the liver. Seitz explains that, initially, fat accumulation is not that serious, but it is the first step towards hardening of the liver, called cirrhosis.

My liver has always lived quietly and discreetly inside me and I haven’t noticed any changes. “It doesn’t matter what stage your liver is at, whether it’s just a little fat or advanced fibrosis: abstaining from alcohol is always good for your liver, always. It will recover,” Seitz said.

Not drinking alcohol (not) is also a solution

I told Seitz I broke the fast after three weeks and a few days, with a friend and some wine. Surprisingly, I found the feeling of mild intoxication more unpleasant than enjoyable. And just thinking about working out the next day at 5:30 in the morning seemed out of the question.

“The metabolic processes that break down alcohol no longer happen automatically,” the researcher explained. An experienced drinker’s metabolism knows what to do, but my metabolism had trouble remembering after the alcohol-free period.

For the next wine evenings Seitz advised me what I always try to repeat like a mantra: drink lots of water! Alcohol dehydrates the body, circulation worsens and headaches are guaranteed.

Of course I also have to stick to the recommended amount of alcohol. For men, no more than 250 ml of wine per day is recommended. For women, only half is allowed. It’s not even a cup!

I wonder if it’s still worth drinking. The next round of abstentions will certainly not be long in coming.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.